Description

Detailed Description

This is an exquisite piece. These are roselite crystals, epitactically oriented on beta-roselite crystals, perched on cobaltoan calcite crystals. There are small balls of dark green cobaltaustinite crystals at the lower right area of this crystal cavity. The roselite crystals are sharp, lustrous and transparent, with gorgeous deep pink colour. The beta-roselite crystals have a deep orange-to-beer-bottle-brown colour. With magnification you’ll lose yourself in this crystal landscape.

In excellent condition, no damage, a couple of incomplete calcites at the outer periphery of the crystal vug. Stands perfectly for display as photographed.

This specimen is absolutely superb – it is from the Tracy Kimmel collection. Tracy had acquired it from me; I had acquired it from Tomasz Prazkier.

Please see the note below about roselite-wendwilsonite and beta-roselite-talmessite.

About Tracy Kimmel (click here)

About These Agoudal Mine Roselites

Important Note about the minerals Roselite and Beta-Roselite – Roselite forms a series with wendwilsonite, where the ratio of cobalt to magnesium varies, and the correct identification of a specimen depends upon where along the spectrum that individual specimen lies. Similarly, beta-roselite forms a series with talmessite on the same basis. The minerals of these two series can only be distinguished from one another on the basis of an analysis that determines the levels of magnesium. As roselite and beta-roselite are considered to be the more commonly occurring members of each series, Tomasz Prazkier and I have labeled these specimens roselite and beta-roselite – they have not been analyzed.

The Agoudal Mine has been a famous source of many excellent mineral specimens for years. In particular, it has been known for beautiful cobaltoan calcite. The locality has included underground and surface workings. I understand from Tomasz that all workings at the Agoudal Mine have now ceased. This is sad news for mineral collectors, as the Agoudal Mine has produced some of the finest cobaltoan calcites and roselites ever found anywhere.